The Grand Firework Displays to Celebrate Thai King’s Birthday 2007

4-8 December 2007

Venue: The Royal Turf Club, Along both banks of the Chao Phraya River between Rama IX Bridge and Industrial Ring Bridge, The Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Mae Phim Beach, Benja Kitti Park

On the auspicious occasion of HM. King Bhumibol’s 80th Birthday Anniversary this year, the government of Thailand and private organizations will arrange the grand fireworks in several places starting from 4 to 8 December 2007.

Schedules:
4 Dec – 14 sets of fireworks from Seiko, JapanVenue: The Royal Turf Club, Phitsanulok Rd.

5 Dec – 9 sets of fireworks and candle lighting ceremonyVenue: Along both banks of the Chao Phraya River between Rama IX Bridge and Industrial Ring Bridge

6 Dec – Over 3,000 beautiful fireworks will be litVenue: The Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Henry Dunant Rd.

7 Dec – Fantasy FireworksVenue: Mae Phim Beach, Rayong Province (179 km east of Bangkok)

8 Dec – Fantasy FireworksVenue: Benja Kitti Park, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre

For more information, please call

TAT main office on tel. +66 (0) 2250 5500 or TAT Call Centre 1672

Thailand's Sand Sculpture Festival

28 November 2007 – 28 March 2008

Venue: On a field next to Srisothon Rd., Muang County, Chachoengsao Province (82 km east of Bangkok)

On the auspicious occasion of HM. King Bhumibols’ 80th Birthday Anniversary this year, the World Sand Sculpture Festival is being held in Thailand from 28 November 2007 to 28 March 2008.

Originated in 1993 in Europe, the festival is well-known for displaying exquisite craftsmanship on the gigantic sand statues. In Chachoengsao Province 82 km to the east of Bangkok, more than 80 pieces of sand sculptures created by over 70 professional sand sculptors worldwide will be exhibited on 4.8 acres of land.

The sand sculpture festival is divided into 3 sections:

• Sand sculptures to extol the King
This zone is dedicated to works related to HM. the King and his multifarious duties.

• Thai history and literature on sand sculptures
An exhibition in the dark with light and sound effects features scenes from Thai literature and history.

• The international sand sculptures
Sand sculptures representing famous landmarks such as Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, etc.

Numbers of fun-filled activities such as sand sculpture for kids, games, picture taking, and on stage performances, are prepared to entertain visitors. The Sand Sculpture Festival is taking place about 800 metres from Wat Sothon Temple, on New Srisothon Rd. (next to Carrefour), Muang County, Chachoengsao Province.

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 10.00-19.00 hrs.
Sat-Sun 9.00-20.00 hrs.

Public holidays 8.00-22.00 hrs.

Admissions:
Adult 80 Baht/Child 40 Baht

For more details, please contact :

TAT Central Office Region 8

Tel. +66 (0) 3731 2282, 3731 2284, or TAT Call Centre 1672

The Death Railway in Thailand

The River Kwai Bridge Week
28 November – 9 December 2007

Venue: Kanchanaburi

The most notorious railway in the world must be the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi, a tourist province bordering Myanmar, 126 km to the west of Bangkok.

This railway was built by the Japanese Army in 1942 during World War II as a route of supply extending 413 km from Nog Pladuk of Thailand to Thanbyuzayat of Burma (former name of Myanmar).

To rush the work to an early completion in rugged mountains and deep jungles of Kanchanaburi, a total of 61,700 allied POWs and 270,000 Asian forced labourers were sent to work on the project. They had to work in hot and damp weather conditons 10 hours aday and 7 days a week with little to eat. Epidemics of malaria and cholera were rampant among them, and there was not enough medicine to go round.

Under such extremely harsh conditions, almost half of the workers had perished when the construction of the railway and the bridge over the River Kwai was finished 13 months later.

However, this railway was made use of by the Japanese for only a few months because they failed to turn back the overwhelming waves of counteroffensive launched by the allied powers.

To commemorate the tragic history of the railway and to promote the tourism of Kanchanaburi, the municipality of the provincial town, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the State Railway jointly hold the annual festival of The River Kwai Bridge Week from 28 Nov. to 9 Dec. 2007 in the area around the bridge.

The festival features a historical exhibition, fun fair, bazaar and enticing light & sound presentation. Tickets to the show are available at 100, 200, and 300 baht.

For more details and ticket reservations :
TAT Kanchanaburi
Tel : +66 (0) 3451 1200, 3451 2500